This week, the Curious Clinicians come to you LIVE from the CHEST 2024 conference explore a breathtaking topic: How could you live with only one lung? Watch this episode on our new YouTube channel here, and read the show notes here! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part …

Before our 100th episode, we are rebooting some favorite early episodes! In episode 89, we asked the question: Why don't elephants get cancer? Read the show notes here! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours).Por The Curious Clinicians

This week, the Curious Clinicians meet Dr. Jessi Gold to talk about an important, and often undiscussed question in medicine: "How Do You Feel?" Dr. Gold's new book, out 10/8, covers the mental and physical costs of caring for others as a medical professional. More information about her book can be found here. Regular episodes will return with our …

This week, the Curious Clinicians explore the mechanism behind-- and against-- a common prescribing cascade: Why does gabapentin cause edema? Watch this episode on our new YouTube channel here, and read the show notes here! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 ho…

Before our 100th episode, we are rebooting some favorite early episodes! In episode 24, we asked the question: Why is fever beneficial? Read the show notes here! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours).

Before our 100th episode, we are rebooting some favorite early episodes! In episode 25, we asked the question: Why can furosemide improve pulmonary edema from heart failure almost immediately? Read the show notes here! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours).…

Dr. Mike Todorovic, medical educator and science communicator extraordinaire, joins The Curious Clinicians to discuss the Na+/K+ ATPase pump ("the most important enzyme in the human body") and his approach to digital medical education. Watch this episode on our new YouTube channel here, and read the show notes here! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Cat…

This week, the Curious Clinicians return to the topic of episode 72, "Bringing up Beethoven" with a surprising news update and new perspectives on a 200 year old tale! Watch this episode on our new YouTube channel here, and read the show notes here! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), …

This week, the Curious Clinicians give a 'hot take' on a common symptoms: why do hot flashes occur? Watch this episode on our new YouTube channel here, and read the show notes here! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours).…

Producer Giancarlo Buonomo joins the Curious Clinicians this week to answer a morning report musing: why do we use IV PPIs to treat upper GI bleeding? Watch this episode on our new YouTube channel here, and read the show notes here! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part …

Instead of "Why do we...?" this week the Curious Clinicians answer a "Why don't we?" question: why don't we use steroids in acute pancreatitis? Watch this episode on our new YouTube channel here, and read the show notes here! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 …

The Curious Clinicians answer a fascinating historical perspective: what was the role of antibiotics in ancient society? Watch this episode on our new YouTube channel here, and read the show notes here! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by…

The Curious Clinicians answer a sweet question about a new medication: Why do SGLT2 inhibitors cause erythrocytosis? Watch this episode on our new YouTube channel here, and read the show notes here! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Cla…

The Curious Clinicians answer a gigantic oncologic and evolutionary question: Why don't elephants get (as much) cancer? Watch this episode on our new YouTube channel here, and read the show notes here! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by …

Hold your breath for this one! The Curious Clinicians answer a puzzling pulmonary physiology question: Why can systemic pulmonary vasodilators worsen hypoxemia in COPD-associated pulmonary hypertension? Watch this episode on our new YouTube channel here, and read the show notes here! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non…

The Curious Clinicians answer an early curiosity question: Why do my fingers wrinkle when I take a bath? Watch this episode on our new YouTube channel here, and read the show notes here! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morgan of…

In this episode from our archives, originally posted on September 16, 2020, The Curious Clinicians examined why the savory flavor umami is SO DELICIOUS. Dig in! Show notes: https://curiousclinicians.com/2020/09/16/episode-9-why-is-umami-so-delicious/ CME: https://vcu.cloud-cme.com/course/search?p=4000&curriculum=Curious%20Clinicians Audio edited by…

The Curious Clinicians are on tap to ask, why does chronic alcohol use cause macrocytosis? Read the show notes here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morgan of Nodderly.com. Medical student Giancarlo Buonomo is our producer.…

Welcome to NephMadness 2024! In collaboration with Things We Do For No Reason (TWDFNR), we are excited to promote the start of this amazing medical education opportunity. Inspired by the "March Madness" college basketball tournament, NephMadness is a "a free online, CME-granting, evidenced-based, noncommercial learning initiative that leverages the…

The Curious Clinicians examine why the genetic mutations leading to hereditary hemochromatosis might have offered an evolutionarily advantage to our Neolithic ancestors. The answer relates to an old breakfast stalwart- cereal and milk! Read the show notes here. Audio edited by Clair Morgan of Nodderly.com. This episode is sponsored by Audible! New …

On this episode from our archive, originally posted on March 15, 2022, The Curious Clinicians examine why cirrhosis predisposes to SBP, and why bacterial translocation across the bowel wall into ascites doesn’t actually occur! Read the show notes here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours…

The Curious Clinicians investigate the history and mechanisms of how thalidomide caused embryopathy in the late 1950s and early 1960s in over 10,000 babies across the world. Read the show notes here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Cl…

On this episode from our archive, originally posted on February 16, 2022, The Curious Clinicians investigate why antiphospholipid antibodies can be falsely positive during acute illness or thrombosis. Read the show notes here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5…

In this episode, we investigate the reasons why we don't (and don't need to) transfuse to normal hemoglobin levels. Read the show notes on our website here. And subscribe to our new Substack! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morg…

The Curious Clinicians are currently on a holiday break, but we'll be back with new content in 2024! In the meantime, we hope you enjoy this episode from our archive, originally posted December 10, 2022. We told the story of a tiny carbohydrate called alpha-gal, delving into unsettling meat allergies after tick bites, ancient viruses, allergic reac…

In this episode, we examine how sickle cell trait protects against malaria, in multiple ways. Read the show notes on our website here. And subscribe to our new Substack! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morgan of Nodderly.com. Ou…

Today we reach back into The Curious Clinicians archives, just in time for Thanksgiving. In this episode, originally posted in November 2021, Hannah, Avi, and Tony examine whether tryptophan from turkey actually causes the infamous Thanksgiving food coma. The answer might surprise you... Check out the episode's show notes here. Click here to obtain…

In this episode, we explore why ACE inhibitors treat scleroderma renal crisis so effectively (and why bilateral nephrectomy used to be the treatment of choice…). Read the show notes on our website here. And subscribe to our new Substack! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC …

In this episode, The Curious Clinicians ask why a ketogenic diet can help control seizures in refractory epilepsy? Read the show notes on our website here. And subscribe to our new Substack! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morga…

For this episode, The Curious Clinicians ask why patients with bioprosthetic heart valves don't require immunosuppression? Read the show notes on our website here. And subscribe to our new Substack! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Cla…

On this episode, The Curious Clinicians learn about why hyperthyroidism is associated with atrial fibrillation. Read the show notes on our website here. And subscribe to our new Substack! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morgan o…

On this episode, The Curious Clinicians explore the liver's incredible ability to regenerate after injury or resection. Read the show notes on our website here. And subscribe to our new Substack! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair …

This week, The Curious Clinicians are bringing back an episode from the archive that was originally posted in December, 2021. Tony joined Dr. Adam Rodman as a guest on the Bedside Rounds podcast. We were thrilled to share that episode here. How can we medically tell whether or not someone is alive or dead? The answer is more complicated than you’d …

On this episode, The Curious Clinicians investigate why alcohol both causes a burning sensation when you first swallow it (hint: the mechanism has something to do with chili peppers) and why you get a general sense of total body warmth within the next few minutes. Read the show notes here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours…

On this episode, The Curious Clinicians examine an intriguing question - why are babies protected from infection and colitis by C. Diff? We'll touch on factors relating to immunology, microbiology and human development. Read the show notes here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or A…

On this episode, The Curious Clinicians are joined by Dr Christopher Worsham, co-author of a fascinating and insightful new book, Random Acts of Medicine, which explores the use of natural experiments to better understand healthcare and is now out in hardcover! Audio edited by Clair Morgan of Nodderly.com.…

This week, we reach back into the archive for an episode from 2021 (the first in a two-part series related to the eyes) where Tony, Hannah, and Avi explored why Wilson disease can present with Kayser-Fleischer corneal rings. Remember to pick up CME/MOC credit just for listening to the episode! Check out the show notes for this episode and read Avi'…

On this episode, The Curious Clinicians dive into musical history, examining what might have caused German composer Ludwig van Beethoven's infamous deafness. Read the show notes here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morgan of No…

In this episode, The Curious Clinicians learn about why pneumonia takes weeks to resolve on chest x-ray, whereas symptoms generally resolve much sooner. Read the show notes here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morgan of Nodderl…

This episode originally aired April, 2021, where The Curious Clinicians examined why some patients feel short of breath specifically when bending over, aka "bendopnea". You can read the show notes for this episode on our website. Don't forget to pick up CME/MOC credits, courtesy of VCU Health. Audio edited by Clair Morgan of Nodderly.…

In this episode, The Curious Clinicians examine why upper gastrointestinal bleeding raises BUN. The answer involves experiments where participants were asked to drink blood (!) and the 700 sextillion (7 x 1023) amino acids that comprise the hemoglobin content in a liter of blood. Read the show notes here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Cre…

In this episode, The Curious Clinicians tackle why alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency can cause chronic liver disease. Read the show notes here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morgan of Nodderly.com. This episode is sponsored by Be…

In this episode, The Curious Clinicians investigate whether atrial fibrillation should be considered a risk factor for PE. Read the show notes here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morgan of Nodderly.com. This episode was sponso…

In this episode, The Curious Clinicians investigate the mysterious blood brain barrier, and how dexamethasone has a seemingly miraculous ability to treat cerebral edema caused by brain tumors. Read the show notes here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours).…

In this episode, The Curious Clinicians investigate why tricuspid valve endocarditis is more common in persons who inject IV drugs. Read the show notes here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morgan of Nodderly.com.…

In this episode, The Curious Clinicians take things to heart and unpack both why rheumatic heart disease so often involves heart valves, and why the mitral valve is by far the most commonly affected. Read the show notes here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 …

In this episode, The Curious Clinicians investigate why meperidine treats rigors. Read the show notes here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morgan of Nodderly.com. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp! You can give online the…

In this episode, The Curious Clinicians examine why weight training increases muscle size. Read the show notes here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morgan of Nodderly.com. This episode was sponsored by Green Chef!…

The Curious Clinicians took a quick holiday break and will be back with new episodes next week! This episode, originally posted May, 2022, explores why obstructive sleep apnea can cause nocturia. Check out the show notes here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5…

In this episode, The Curious Clinicians examine why patients with liver injury or dysfunction have conjugated hyperbilirubinemia. Why is this particular function (conjugation) seemingly spared in liver disease? "Hop" in for the ride! Read the show notes here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.…